Washing machine



May 8, 1928.

F. GIES WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet v attozmq 1,668,843 F G GIES WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 May 8, 1928.

351 l a a Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK (1. cans, or, nn'rnor'r, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'ro oUasALEsANnsEBvIcE COMPANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed November 20, 1926. Serial No. 149,603.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a washing machine wherein the agitator drive is suitably housed with respect to the water container or tub so as to prevent any possibility of leakage of water. i v

Another object of my invention is to provide an efficient and economical wringer drive which combines simplicity of operation with safety.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient lubricating means for the various operating parts of the machine, and particularly for the change speed gearing controlling the operation of the agitator.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent as the. specification progresses, and it may be stated that my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of my improved device as described in the specificatiomclaimed in my claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of my improved machine,parts being broken away to illustrate the agitator drivecontainedtherein.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the change speedgearing and wringer driv employed in my invention. 1

Fig. 3 is a view'taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away to better illustrate the construction.

: Fig. 4 is a central sectional view illustrat ing the drive connections emplo edin my improved device, and forms in e ect a continuation of the construction shown in Fig. 2 at the point where the housings andshaftings are broken away in said figure.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. I i

I have shown a. washing machine comprising a plurality of legs 5 supporting a base 6 on which is mounted a stationary tub 7 having a'removable top 8. The bottom of the tub 7 is of hexagon shape, as shown particularly in Fig. 5 and is provided with a central opening or aperture 9 tends. The agitator is composed of a base ortion 11 and wing portions 12. A housing 13 is secured to the bottom of the tub 7 as at 14. A boss 15 is provided in the bottom of thehousing 13 and; abo1t-16-is ex- .termed high speed.

the clutch member 46, the other two clutch through which the hub 10 of an agitator extended from the agitator base 11 throu h the hub 10 and boss 15 to a point outside the housing 13.. A suitable bushing or bearing 17 is provided. in the hub 10 and around the bolt 16. The head 18 of the bolt 16 bears against the upper end ofthe bushing 17 and a nut 19 is provided on the lower end of the bolt, and is adapted to be screwed thereon for rigidly securing the bolt in place. A look washer 20 is provided be- 05 tween the nut 19 and the boss 15. Also, the bearing 17 may be made of selfJubriCating material such as is commonly used in providing oilless bearings.

Depending from the base 11 of the agitatoris a pin21 which is adapted to connect with a crank 22. The crank 22 is connected by a connecting rod 23 to a crank 24 on the end of a shaft 25 in the housin 26. The shaft 25 is keyed at its upper end to the gears 27 and 28 within the housing 29. Extending in parallel relation to the shaft housing 26 is the shaft housing 30 which has on its upper end a housing 31 within which are positioned gears 32 and 33 meshing with so the gears 27 and 28 respectively. The gears 32 and 33 are freely rotatable on theshaft 34 within the hous1ng30. The lower end of the shaft 34 is provided with a worm gear 35, mounted in the enlargedbottom housing 36 and connected by a worm with the motor shaft 37 on the electric motor 38.

Longitudinally slidable on the shaft/34 is ashifting collar 39 which is engaged by the arm 40 connected through the rod 41 with a shifting arm 42. The shifting collar 39 has connected therewith and keyed to the shaft 34, clutch members 43 and 44 adapted to alternately engage with the clutch members 45v and 46 respectively. The clutch members 45 and 46 are respectively integral with the 1 gears 32 and 33' so that when the clutch member 43 is engaged with the clutch mem ber 45, the gear 32 will be driven and rotation of the gear 32 will cause rotation of the gear 27 and shaft 25 at what. may be On the other hand, when-theclutch member 44 is engaged with members will be disengaged and the gear 33 will be driven, causing rotation of the gear 28 and shaft 25 at what may be termed low speed. InFig. 1 I havedesignated with the letters F, N and S the respective positions of the shifting lever 42 forfast new 110 will cause rotation of the. crank 24 and reciprocation of the connecting rod 23,thereby oscillating the agitator 11.

.The water which is contained in the tank 7 has access to the housing 13, and in fact, the tub and housing may be drained by means of a pipe 47 connected with the houslo ing 13 and having an outlet end 48 and a tub 7.

valve 49. A cap is also screwed into the housing 13 adjacent the outside end thereof for the purpose of providing access to the parts therein.

It will be understood that the driving con nection for the agitator is entirely inc-used within the housing 13 so that no moving parts are extended through the bottom of the housing 13 and complete and absolute seal may be made around the stationary bolt 16 where it emerges from the housing 13. The water in the tub 7 will not only fill the housing 13 but may enter the housing 26 to the same level as is present in the There is no opportunity. however, for the water to leak from the housing 26, and it will be naturally drained therefrom when the tub is drained.

The shaft 34 is provided, beneath the worm gear 35, with a cam 51 which is adapt- 33 chamber housing the spring 54.

lit)

ed. to engage with a pin 52 slidable in the apertured boss 53 in the casing 36. A coil spring 54 is positioned beneath the pin 52 and a passage 55 communicates with the A ball valve 56 is provided in the passage 55, the ball being normally held in seated position by a coil spring 57 held in place by an adjustable plug 58 screwed into the housing 36. A passage 59 communicates with the passage 55 and is connected to a pipe 60 which leads up through the housing 30 to a point directly above the gears 32 and 33. An oil pocket or chamber 61 is provided in the bottom of the housing 36 and when the I shaft 34 is rotated so that the shallow portion of the cam '51 contacts with the pin or plunger 52, the coil spring 54 will raise the plunger so as to uncover the passage 63,1eading from the oil chamber, with the passage in the boss 53'. Oil from the chamber 61 may thus pass through the passage 63 and continued rotation'of the shaft 34 to bring the high part ofthe cam 51 in contact with the plunger 52 will again force the plunger 52 downwardly and thereby force the oil which has gathered in the apertured boss 53 through the passage 55, past the ball 'cheek'56 and out through the passage 59 and pipe 60 to the gears and 33. Thus, the gears 32 and 33 will be thoroughly lubricated and excess oil will drip back along the housing 30 to the worm gear 35 and thence intothe reservoir 61.

A housing 64 is provided above the housing 29 into which the upper end of the shaft 34 extends. The shaft 34 is clutched as at 65 to a shaft 66 which in turn is connected through a pin 67 .to the shaft 68, the latter shaft being pivotal around the pin 67 and being provided on its upper end with a cut-out portion 69. The shaft 68 is held by a sleeve 70 whichis provided with an arm 71 pivoted at 72 in the side of the case 64. The arm 71 is connected to a bell crank lever 73 which is secured to one end of a shaft 74 rotatably mounted in the top of the case 64. The connection between the end of shaft 74 and lever 73 is an eccentric one as shown clearly in Fig. 3. One end of the shaft 74 is provided with a lever 75 on the end of which is positioned a handle 76. The handle 76 is hollow and a coil spring 77 is adjustably held therein by means of the screw threaded plug 78. The spring 77 yieldably forces a ball 79 into the groove 80 in the flange 81 of the case 64. Each end of the groove 80 is provided with a pocket 82 which is adapted to offer greater resistance to the movement of the ball 79 than the intermediate portions.

A conventional wringer 83 is provided above the tub 7 and is adapted to be oper ated through the shaft 84 leading from the casing 64. The shaft 84 is provided with a worm gear 85 which is adapted to be driven by a worm 86 on the shaft 87 when either of the pins 88 is engaged in the groove or notch 69 of the shaft 68, as is shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 87 is supported by the brackets 89 which are clamped together around the two ends of the shaft 74 by studs 90, the portions engaging. the shaft 74 being designated at 91, and the engagement being such as to make the brackets turnable with the shaft.

In the view shown in Fig. 3 the wringer shaft 84 is driven through the :pin 88, worm 86 and worm gear 85' in one direction, but by moving the handle 76 around the case 64; with the ball 79 engaging-in the groove 80, until theball is brought to itsseat in the pocket 82, the drive of the worm upon the worm gear will be in the opposite direction so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft 84. That is to say, movement of the handle 76 causes rotation ofthe shaft 74 with concentric turning of the brackets 89 so as to position the worm 86 either as shown in Fig. 3, where the shaft 84 is bein driven in one direction, or in the position shown in Fig. 2where the shaft 87 is disconnected from the shaft 68 and the shaft 84 is not being driven, or: to a position opposite that shown in Fig. 3, when the shafts 87 and 68 are'again connected and the shaft 84 is driven in the opposite direction to that obtained from the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood, of course, that the shaft 84 is freely rotatable within the portions 91 of the brackets 89 and within the shaft 74.

By reason of theeccentric connection between the lever 73 and shaft 74, movement of the handle 76 and consequent rotation of the shaft 74: will raise and lower the lever 73 and cause arm 71 andshaft 68 to be tilted on the pivot'67 in order to bring the notch 69 in alignment with the pins, 88 in the two extreme positions of the shaft 87. The eccentric is so related to the lever 73 that the lever will be stationary just before and after the reaching of the extremepositions of the shaft 87, but will move sharply in the intermediate positions of the shaft.

It will be apparent that if an obstruction to rotation is encountered by the shaft 8%, rotation of the worm gear will cease or tend to cease with the result that the worm 86 will climb up on the worm gear 85, cansing rotation of the shaft 74:, and continuing until the connection between the shaft 87 and the shaft 68 has been broken. The tension of the spring 77 on the ball 79 will tend to hold the shaft 87 in its disconnected position until the operator applies force to the handle 76 to move it and cause reengagement of the shafts. It will be apparent that adjustment of the tension of the spring 77 through the plug 78 will control the point at which the worm will begin climbing on the worm gear so as to bring about the dis engagement.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts ofmy improved device without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may be reasonably included within the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a movable shaft having a worm thereon and means for connecting the movable shaft to the driven shaft.

2. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a movable shaft having a worm thereon and means for connecting the movable shaft to the driven shaft, said means comprising a pin on said movable shaft engaging a slot in said driven shaft. I

3. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a movable shaft having a'worm thereon, means for connecting *the movable shaft to the driven shaft, and means for disconnecting the shafts when the wringer meets a predetermined opposition to rotation. I

a. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft,a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a mov; able shaft having a worm thereon, means for connecting the movable shaft to the driven shaft, means normally holding said shafts connected and means for disconnecting the shafts when the wringer meets a predetermined opposition to rotation, said means comprising aclimbing of the worm on the worm gear to move the movableshaft out of connection'with the driven shaft.

5. A wringer drive for Washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a movable shaft extended at right angles to the wringer shaft andhaving a worm engaged with. the worm gear and means for oscillating the movable shaft about the wringer shaft and engaging and disengaging the driven. shaft with the movable shaft.

6. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a drivin shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a movable shaft eXtended at right angles to the wringer shaft and having a worm engaged with the worm gear, means for oscillating the movable shaft about the wringer shaft and engaging and disengaging the driven shaft with the movable shaft, and means for tilting the driven shaft in response to the movement of the movable shaft.

7. A wringer drive for washing machines, comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a manually rotatable shaft extended in the same direction as the wringer shaft, a connecting shaft disposed at right angles thereto movable therewith about the wringer shaft, a

, worm on said connecting shaft engaged with said worm gear and means forconnecting the connecting shaft with the driven shaft on either side of the worm gear.

8. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm-gear thereon, a mannally rotatable shaft extended in the same direction as the wringer shaft, a connecting shaft disposed at right angles thereto movable therewith about the wringer shaft, a

worm on said connecting shaft engaged with said worm gear and means for connecting the connecting shaft with the driven shaft on either side of the WOIHI, said means including a connection between said manually rotatable shaft and driven shaft, adapted to tilt the driven shaft in response to rotation of the manually rotatable shaft to bring the driven shaft into alignment with the connecting shaft.

9. A \vringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft fixed for rotation with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a Wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a manually rotatable shaft extended in the same direction as the Wringer shaft, a connecting shaft disposed at right angles thereto, 1novable therewith about the Wringer shaft, a worm on said connecting shaft engaged with said worm gear and means for connecting the connecting shaft with the driven shaft on either side of the worm gear, said means including a bell crank lever connected at one end with the driven shaft and eecentrically connected at the other end with the manually movable shaft, to tilt the driven shaft in response to rotation of the manually 1otatable shaft to bring the driven shaft into alignment with the connecting shaft.

10. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising a driving shaft, a" driven shaft fixed for rotation. with the driver and pivoted to tilt in relation thereto, a wringer shaft having a worm gear thereon, a movable shaft extended at right angles to the \vringer shaft and having aworm engaged with the worm gear, means connecting the movable shaft to the driven shaft, means normally holding said shafts connectedand means for disconnecting them when an obstruction to rotation is met by the Wringer shaft, comprising a climbing of the worm on the worm gear, with a consequent movement of the movable shaft.

FRANK G. GIES. 

